PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania appeals court has upheld a 25 percent reduction of a $27.6 million verdict rendered in favor of the recipient of a Zimmer knee replacement and her husband, rejecting Zimmer’s argument that the remitted award remains grossly excessive.

On Dec. 15, the Pennsylvania Superior Court also rejected Zimmer’s request to reduce the verdicts to the recipient and her husband by 95 percent and 75 percent, respectively, explaining that granting the request would require the appellate court to impermissibly substitute its judgment for that of the jury.